Posted by Chris Ailey
Two of our most-loved pillowcases sound almost the same and feel quite different. One is mulberry silk, a natural fibre with a true silk hand. The other is bamboo silk, a smooth, cool, plant-based fabric that costs less and comes as a pair. Both are lovely. They are simply made for different priorities, and the trouble starts when a shopper expects one to be the other.
This guide sets the two side by side honestly, so you can choose with your eyes open and love what arrives. If your only question is which feels cooler at night, our companion piece on silk versus bamboo pillowcases and which feels cooler against skin goes deeper on temperature alone.
Quick answer: Choose mulberry silk if you want the real thing: a natural protein fibre with a fluid, faintly cool hand that is especially kind to skin and hair, sold as a premium single. Choose bamboo silk if you want a smooth, cool, easy-care pillowcase at better value, sold as a pair, and you are happy that it is a plant-based fabric rather than true silk. Most people who want the luxury feel pick mulberry; most people furnishing a bed or a guest room practically pick bamboo silk.
[HERO IMAGE: mulberry silk pillowcase and bamboo silk pillowcase side by side on a made bed, natural light]
The honest difference in one line
Mulberry silk is silk. Bamboo silk is not. That is not a criticism of either, but it is the fact that prevents disappointment, so it is worth saying plainly before anything else.
Mulberry silk is a natural protein fibre produced by silkworms, chemically closer to hair and skin than to cotton, which is where its gentle reputation comes from. Bamboo silk is a bamboo-derived fabric, a regenerated cellulose finished to feel silk-smooth. It genuinely gives you much of the sensory experience of silk, with the everyday practicality of a plant fibre. If you want the full background on the bamboo side, we cover it in what bamboo silk bedding is and why it feels fresher.
How each one feels
Pick both up and the difference is immediate. Mulberry silk has a fluid, almost weightless drape and a soft natural sheen. It slips rather than glides, and it warms to the skin while still feeling cool to lie on. It is the hand-feel people picture when they imagine silk.
Bamboo silk is smooth and lightly cool, with a cleaner, more matte surface and a little more body. It feels polished and calm against the cheek rather than liquid. For many people that is exactly what they want, and they never miss the extra fluidity. The honest note is this: if you are expecting the specific, slightly decadent slip of natural silk, bamboo silk will feel smooth but different. Expect its own character and you will be delighted. Expect mulberry silk and you may feel it falls short, which is the single most common reason anyone is underwhelmed.
What momme means, and why only one of these is graded by it
Silk is sold by weight, using a unit called momme. It describes how much a given area of silk weighs and is the closest thing silk has to a quality marker. For pillowcases, around 19 momme and upward is the accepted mark of a quality mulberry silk, substantial enough to last while still feeling fine. We explain the detail in our guide to what momme means and how to choose.
Momme applies only to real silk, so you will see it quoted for mulberry silk and not for bamboo silk. That is not a gap in the bamboo product, it is simply a different material measured in a different way. If a listing quotes a momme weight for a bamboo pillowcase, treat it as marketing rather than meaning.
Mulberry silk vs bamboo silk pillowcases at a glance
| Mulberry silk | Bamboo silk | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Natural protein fibre from silkworms | Bamboo-derived fabric, silk-finished, vegan |
| Feel | Fluid, weightless, soft sheen, faintly cool | Smooth, calm, lightly cool, more matte |
| Graded in momme | Yes, look for 19 momme or more | No, momme does not apply |
| Care | Cool delicate wash, mesh bag, no bio detergent | Easy cool machine wash |
| Sold as | A premium single | A better-value pair |
| Best for | The true luxury feel, skin and hair | Everyday smoothness, value, a whole bed |
[LIFESTYLE IMAGE: close detail showing the sheen of mulberry silk next to the matte-smooth bamboo silk]
Caring for each one
Both reward the same gentle instinct, but mulberry asks for a little more care because it is a protein fibre.
Wash mulberry silk cool on a delicate cycle inside a mesh bag, with a mild non-biological detergent. Biological powders contain enzymes that break down protein, and silk is a protein, so they gradually dull and weaken it. Skip fabric conditioner, which coats the fibre and flattens the sheen, and dry away from radiators and direct sun. Bamboo silk is more forgiving: a cool machine wash and a low-heat or line dry keeps it smooth, and the main thing to avoid is a hot wash, which can slowly take the edge off its finish.
If you would like the full routine for both, along with linen, see our guide to the benefits of using a silk pillowcase.
Price and value
The price gap is smaller than people expect, and it reflects the materials honestly. A mulberry silk pillowcase is a premium single because the fibre itself is costly and natural. A bamboo silk pillowcase comes as a pair, which makes it the better-value route if you want a matching set on both pillows or you are kitting out a guest room.
Put simply: if you want one special pillowcase for the side of the bed your face lands on, mulberry silk is the one to treat yourself to. If you want two good pillowcases that look and feel smart for less, the bamboo silk pair is the sensible buy. Neither is a compromise, they just answer different questions.
So, which should you choose?
Choose mulberry silk if you want the genuine article, you care most about how it feels on skin and hair, and you are happy to give it a gentle wash. It is the quiet luxury, and the one most people mean when they say they want silk.
Choose bamboo silk if you want a smooth, cool, low-maintenance pillowcase, you like that it is vegan and plant-based, and you would rather have a matching pair for the price of one luxury single. It is the easy, everyday choice, and a particularly good one for a shared bed or a spare room.
Still torn? Many people buy one of each and keep the mulberry silk on their own pillow. It is the clearest way to feel the difference for yourself, and you end up with the right fabric exactly where it matters.
Compare the two
Frequently asked questions
Is bamboo silk as good as mulberry silk?
They are different rather than one being better. Mulberry silk is a natural protein fibre with a fluid, luxurious hand and particular benefits for skin and hair. Bamboo silk is a smooth, cool, plant-based fabric that is easier to wash and better value. Bamboo silk is excellent at what it does, but it does not replicate the exact feel of real silk, so choose by what you care about most.
Is bamboo silk real silk?
No. Bamboo silk is a bamboo-derived fabric finished to feel silk-like. It contains no silk fibre and is not produced by silkworms. It is a genuine fabric with real qualities of its own, but any listing implying it is silk is being loose with the word.
Which is better for your hair and skin?
Mulberry silk has the edge, because it is a smooth natural protein fibre that creates little friction against hair and is gentle on the delicate skin of the face. Bamboo silk is also smooth and kinder than cotton, so it is a good step up, but for this specific benefit mulberry silk is the one to choose.
Which is cooler for hot sleepers?
Both feel cool to the touch and breathe far better than polyester satin. Bamboo silk tends to suit warm sleepers well because it handles moisture nicely and is easy to wash often. For a fuller look at temperature alone, see our companion guide on which feels cooler against skin.
Why is mulberry silk sold as a single and bamboo silk as a pair?
It reflects the materials. Mulberry silk is a costly natural fibre, so it is offered as a premium single for the pillow that matters most. Bamboo silk is more economical to produce, so it is sold as a value pair, which suits a matching set or a guest room.
Explore our silk pillowcases to feel the difference for yourself, or read more in the Bedside Journal.
